Theater of the Imagination
Join award winning composer Peter Link as he presents his life's work in 'Theater of the Imagination.'
Theater of the Imagination
Series 1, Episode 11: A Scattershot of Pop
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This Episode covers a wide range of Pop music— hence the name, “A Scattershot Of Pop.” Here presented and discussed are some of Peter Link’s favorite Pop music creations from four decades of producing and composing. Join us as we revisit and share insights into the making of and development of everything from ballads to dance music. If you lived through this time, we promise you a walk back through some of the most memorable sounds and grooves of your lifetime of listening.
Here comes summer! A time to get out and enjoy life and celebrate just being alive. Take the music with you! It’ll make it all the better!
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Welcome to:
Scattershot Symphony
The Music of Peter Link
(That’s me.)
People ask me, “Why “Symphony? You’re not a classical composer.” Well, Wikipedia defines “Symphony” as: an extended musical composition most often written by composers for orchestra – often presented in several movements.
And so, I bring you the music of a lifetime of composition – often presented in several movements. That’s the nature of these podcasts – a scattershot look at a lifetime of music …
So, strap on them headphones.
We’re 90% music with just a smattering of commentary.
So for god sakes,
(Crowd)
Turn it up!
This week being the eleventh episode of this podcast, I prefer to let the music do the talkin’. However, if you need to know more about me, please visit Wikipedia.com – Peter Link.
This episode is entitled
A Scattershot Of Pop
Phlutterphase Hang Music Cue
What makes a song a “Pop” song? I would imagine that we all understand that it’s a pretty large umbrella, an extremely wide genre of music. I like to go to the root of the word in order to define it. “Pop” is Popular. Popular Music. Music enjoyed and listened to by the largest of masses. Is “Pop” rock? Is it Hip Hop, Rap, even Jazz or Country influenced? Certainly, all of the above — especially in this day and age. Add onto that list, R&B, Folk Rock, Reggae, Gospel, Adult Contemporary ... and I could go on and on. There’s new pop and old pop and fifties pop and 80s pop and again, on and on.
So this Episode covers a wide range of Pop — hence the name, “A Scattershot Of Pop.”
One of Jenny Burton’s heroes was Katharine Hepburn. Hepburn was the epitome of grace and elegance — the ultimate movie star of the 40s and 50s. She had on-screen romances with Cary Grant and Humphrey Bogart, but the real romance that kept everybody talking was a long 26-year off-screen relationship with Spencer Tracey, who was married and whose wife refused to give a divorce, so, they stayed married.
For her birthday, I wrote Jenny this next song. It’s one of my favorites that she ever recorded — the perfect kick off for this episode.
Just Like Katharine Hepburn
Music and Lyrics by Peter Link
Popcorn junkie
Hooked on the celluloid
Strung out on the front row
Of the motion picture show
Star fixated
Trapped in my fantasies
Scene after scene
Falling through the silver screen
In a past life
I got to be Bogey's wife
An' in my next life
I get to be Spencer's wife
Oh just like Katharine Hepburn
Just like Katharine Hepburn
Slipping through the hole in my imagination
Right into the role of my latest incarnation
And I am Katharine Hepburn
Just like I always wanted to be
Just like Katharine Hepburn
Living in the soul of me
So elusive
Wrapped in her dignity
Known worldwide
But oh what a mystery
Head strong high class
Tough like a leather glove
Fearless in the face of
Life's unforgotten love
In a past life
I got to be Carey's wife
An' in my last life
I want to be Spencer's wife
Oh just like Katharine Hepburn
Just like Katharine Hepburn
Slipping through the hole in my imagination
Right into the role of my latest incarnation
And I am Katharine Hepburn
Just like I always wanted to be
Just like Katharine Hepburn
Loretta Divine, the African American actress who originated the role of one of the three Dreamgirls on Broadway and then went on to have a major career as a TV and film actress in Hollywood, came to me as a young woman and asked me to produce her first album in the studio. Though she is really known as an actress now, back in the day, she had a real shot at being a Pop and R&B star. I wrote and produced 4 or 5 songs for her showcasing a voice that could easily have been a chart topper. This next song was just one of those songs.
I'm a Survivor
Performed by Loretta Devine
Music and Lyrics by Peter Link
Boy you had me runnin'
Boy you got me thinkin'
There was somethin' kinda special we had goin' on
Boy you had me runnin'
Boy you had my heart
Right deep down in your pocket of control
Boy you had me runnin'
Boy you threw me over
For a two bit sweet-talkin' woman
Boy you had me runnin'
Boy you cut the lifeline
Deep down to the bottom of my soul
And guess what?
I'm here to tell you
I'm still here
I'm a survivor
No tears
I am alive
Cuz life goes on
Rollin' on
You are gone
But it really doesn't matter
I'm here
I'm a survivor
No fears
I am alive
And life goes on
Rollin' on
And on and on
And I'd always known the way it would be
You with your fantasy
You never worried me
It was just never meant to be
You thought I was through
But you were wrong my friend
I'm back up on my feet again
I'm back out in the heat on the street again
Cuz I'm a survivor
I'm a survivor
(Survivor)
Boy you had me runnin'
Boy I never really thought
I'd live to see the moment that I'm standin' here
Boy you had me runnin'
Boy it took the breath of God
To breath the very life back in my soul
And guess what?
I'm here to tell you
I'm still here
I'm a survivor
No tears
I am alive
Cuz life goes on
Rollin' on
You are gone
But it really doesn't matter
I'm here
I'm a survivor
No fears
I am alive
And life goes on
Rollin' on
And on and on
I've always known that I'm a survivor
I'm a survivor
I'm a survivor
I'm a survivor
I'm a survivor
Oh oh
I'm still here
I'm a survivor
No tears
I am alive
Cuz life goes on
Rollin' on
You are gone
But it just doesn't matter
I'm here
I'm a survivor
No fears
I am alive
And life goes on
Rollin' on
And on and on
I've always known the way it would be
I'm a survivor [repeat to fade]
Here’s a song I recently found wandering through the back pages of my life. Again, back in the day, I would sometimes write a song and end up performing it myself or sometimes I just wanted to make a quick demo to send to somebody else.
I honestly don’t remember much about the story behind this one. I do know, however that when I recently heard it again after several decades, it intrigued me and seemed to me to be a song that could have, that should have, that might have ... well, you decide.
It Must Be Love
Music and Lyrics by Peter Link
Well I woke up this mornin' with this feelin' inside me
I never really felt it before
It was almost like my better sense had gone and defied me
Lift my bed right offa the floor
And the walls
Would all
Come fallin' down on me
Now I don't know what this is
But I know what your kiss is
And the feelin' from this is
The same
So it must be love
Hey hey
Yes it must be love
(Love)
Oooh oooh
So I lay there in my bed and floated halfway to heaven
Longing for that look in your eyes
As you lay beside me sleepin' at a quarter to seven
Floating through those strawberry skies
And the sun
And the moon
And the stars
Were all shinin' on me
Now I don't know what this is
But I do know what bliss is
And the feelin' from this is
The same
So it must be love
Hey hey
Yes it must be love
(Oooh oooh)
Yes it must be love
(Oooh oooh)
Yes it must be love
(Oooh oooh)
Yes it must be love
(Oooh oooh)
Yes it must be love
Yes it must be love
(Hey hey)
Yes it must be love
Well I woke up this mornin' with this feelin' inside me
Yeah yeah yeah
Yes I woke up this mornin' with you right beside me
Yes I woke up this mornin' with this feelin' inside me
Yeah yeah yeah
And the sun
And the moon
And the stars
Were all shinin'
Shinin' in the morning through them strawberry skies
And I woke up this mornin' took a look in your eyes
And I knew right then that it must be love
Here’s another song that I wrote for Jenny, this one for a special occasion. As I recall, this one was actually originally two different songs, neither of which quite worked, but both had sections that were infectious. So I took the best of both and reorganized them into this one.
The special occasion was a reunion at my college several decades ago where Jenny and I performed with a reunion choir full of good old friends. In three days we threw an evening’s show together for about 700 people. I remember that when we first rehearsed the song with the choir, I first taught all the singers their parts and had them going pretty good. Then in rehearsal, I finally, once they really knew the song, asked Jenny to come into the rehearsal and sing lead on the song.
This lovely group of dedicated amatures was not ready for the likes of Jenny Burton. When she got up in rehearsal and started singing, the whole choir just fell apart and stopped singing, preferring rather to just stand there, jaw dropped, and listen to Jenny tear it up. The night of performance went just as well. We opened the show with this song and got an instant standing ovation for the opening number. This time the choir remembered to sing their parts. So come back with us now to that reunion night and join us in remembering old friends and good old times.
Time and Time Again
Music and Lyrics by Peter Link
Through the years I've watched you all
Return and return again
Coming back to share once more
The memories with old friends
Through the good times old times sad times
The feeling never ends
Now there ain't no doubt
Because the word is out
It's all about friends
Friends
Here at last we're together
So close
This feeling of friendship
We're friends
Now we're back an' together
So sweet
We could do it again an' again an' again
It is a time to stop and be with us
This is a time when time stands still
And in the rush of all the memories
Well you can step right up and drink your fill
We're serving
Friends
And we're full to the rafters
(An' it feels) so good
This feeling of friendship
Feel it all around you
We're friends
An' we're lost in the laughter
(Time and time again)
An' I love to be here with you just because
Because you love to love for what the loving does
And we'll all look back upon the way it was
Time and time again
We'll remember our friendships
Time and time again
We'll remember our friendships
Time and time again
We'll remember our friendships
Time and time
And time and time
And time and time again
A time to tell the old old stories
A time to let it all hang out
A time to relive the old glories
A time to play and sing a time to shout
Hallelujah hallelujah
Hallelujah for
Friends
Here at last we're together
So right
This feeling of friendship
Feel it all around you
We're friends
An' it's gettin' better an' better
An' though it's many years
That we've been apart
It was as though no time had passed
Right from the start
Oh yeah we all came back again
And touched the heart
Time and time again
We'll remember our friendships
Time and time again
One piece of advice I always gave female singers was, when making an album, don’t try to cover a Barbara Streisand song. If you do, chances are, you’re going to come in second place. Not only are you not Barbara Streisand, but you’re probably not going to have the money to even begin to match her orchestra and orchestrations, the great studio she worked in, the support team of producers and arrangers around her, etc., etc,.
I broke my rule ...
On My Way To You, a gorgeous song written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman and Michel Legrand, was a song that somehow got lost on a Streisand album. It never became the hit that one would expect. I always loved the song and had an idea around it that I thought made it a lot more than just another cover. So, I brought it to Julia Wade, who I knew had the voice and the “stuff” to do it.
I was right to take the chance. I put this song in the top ten records I ever worked on. It’s amazing that when you have a great piece of material to work with in the first place, it makes the process a whole lot easier.
It’s actually a pretty short song, but, I know, I can be a little long winded. In this case, I love the way it all came out.
On My Way to You
Music and Lyrics by Michel LeGrand and Alan & Marilyn Bergman
So often as I wait for sleep
I find myself reciting
The words I've said or should have said
Like scenes that need rewriting
The smiles I never answered
Doors perhaps I should have opened
Songs forgotten in the morning
I relive the roles I've played
The tears I may have squandered
The many pipers I have paid
Along the roads I've wandered
Yet all the time I knew it
Love was somewhere out there waiting
Though I may regret a kiss or two
If I had changed a single day
What went amiss or went astray
I may have never found my way to you
It happens so often as I wait for sleep…
And all the time I knew it
Love was somewhere out there waiting
Though I may regret a kiss or two
If I had changed a single day
What went amiss or went astray
I would not change a thing that happened
On my way to you
Here’s another song from the Loretta Devine Collection. Penned and produced by Yours Truly, straight from the decades of cheesy MIDI sampling and beat box drumming. On the other hand, sound is sound, and though today’s sample sounds are all both new and better, retro is definitely alive and well!
Wildfire
Performed by Loretta Devine
Music and Lyrics by Peter Link
You must think that the key to my heart is easy to steal
You must think there's been many more there before
Happened so fast that you musta thought "Baby this can't be real"
Love like this was supposed to cost so much more
But this is love I know
And though it can't be so
What you do to me makes me feel
Like I always wanted to feel
You came into my life
And ignited my life
And your light in my life
Is all that I desire
And this feelin' inside
That's shakin' my pride
Keeps burnin' inside
Burnin' like a fire
So you can take of my life
I will give you my life
Cuz your love in my life
Is burnin' like a fire
Burnin' like a fire
Burnin' like a wildfire
It was not my intention to love you this way
It was all so fast
And the misapprehension some people will make
Says it could not last
But I don't think that the heat of this fire can ever die down
(Die down)
Nothin's ever gonna take this flame away
Cuz this is love I know
And now I can't let go
Cuz what you do to me makes me feel
Like I've always wanted to feel
You came into my life
And ignited my life
And your light in my life
Is all that I desire
And the thought of your touch
Makes me want you so much
And the closer you come
Keeps takin' me higher
So you can take of my life
I will give you my life
Cuz your love in my life
Is burnin' like a fire
Burnin' like a fire
Burnin' like a wildfire
Burnin' like a wildfire
Burnin' like a wildfire
Burnin' like a wildfire
Burnin' like a wildfire
When it comes to music, Danny Madden has always been one of my favorite partners in crime. Here is a man who lives and breathes music. A gifted vocalist, Danny worked with me many years as a NY studio background singer before I found that he also had a huge talent as a background vocal arranger. Between Danny and our dearest of friends, Margaret Dorn, I had decades of opportunity to work consistently with the best of the best vocal arrangers.
Now I am not a rapper. I took this next song to Danny decades ago, long before Rap was solidly in the limelight and asked him to arrange the background vocals and help me find a rapper who could do the lead and some rap on it. When I first played him the song, of course, I had to perform it for him. When I had finished, he said, “Pete, you oughta do it yourself!” My response was, “Oh no, Danny, this is not a song for me. I’m not a rapper!”
In that day and age, rappers were black and I’m a white guy. I didn’t wanna try to be something I’m not. Danny, a black guy, disagreed. As we worked on the track and background vocals I laid down a scratch track of the rap that just somehow stuck for everyone but me. In the end they all talked me into being a rapper for at least this one song only.
Now that I’ve given this big moment its set up, I’ll let y’all decide whether or not I should quit my day job.
This one’s just for laughs, but I do love the groove.
Boogie Man
Music and Lyrics by Peter Link
Party, Party
Don't you wanna party?
Party, Party
Don't you wanna party down?
Party, Party
Don't you wanna party?
Party, Party
Don't you wanna party down?
Hey little girl you wanna have some fun?
I know about a party that's just begun
And the honored guest on this dark night
Is the demon's dream and the fool's delight
He's a little strange and a lotta weird
But the party ain't started 'til he's appeared
He's the dancin'est fool since the world began
Yes tonight we're gonna party with the Boogie Man
C'mon down, down, down to the basement
C'mon down, down, down into the hole
Where the music shrieks
And the ghouls and guys and freaks
Are just layin' out, hangin' around
Everybody watchin' for the moment when the man comes down
Come down, down, down to the basement
Come down, down, down into your soul
Come down, down, down to the marrow of your bones
Know he might see ya' got ta' run for your life
Everyone screams at the moment when the man arrives
Here comes the Boogie Man
(Yeah yeah, haunted)
He's got his boogie band
(Yeah yeah, haunted)
Here comes the Boogie Man
(Oooh)
When the party fires up it's automatic
That the old house shakes from the basement to the attic
With the Boogie Man
[Boogie Man laughs]
And it's dance, dance, dance to the music
(Dance)
And it's move, move, move to the groove
(Move)
And the moon is full
So the spooks are out tonight
Everyone goes where the Boogie Man goes
Cuz everyone knows that the man can boogie right
[Boogie Man laughs again]
Here comes the Boogie Man
(Yeah yeah, haunted)
He's got his boogie band
(Yeah yeah, haunted)
Here comes the Boogie Man
(Oooh)
He's doing the zombie to the haunted house rock
From the midnight hour all around the clock
Here comes the Boogie Man
(Yeah yeah, haunted)
He's got his boogie band
(Yeah yeah, haunted)
Here comes the Boogie Man
(Oooh)
And the fiends dance on to the vampire hop
As the band keeps crankin' out the Boogie Man bop
For the Boogie Man
Better make up your mind
You gonna dance
Better make up your mind
You gonna move
Better make up your mind
You gonna dance
Better make up your mind
You gonna groove
Better make up your mind
You gonna dance
Better make up your mind
You gonna move
Better make up your mind
You gonna dance
Better make up your mind
You gonna groove
Hey little girl better lock the door
Cuz the freaks are rollin' all around the floor
There's a green-haired lady with a long mustache
Dancin' with the dog doin' the Monster Mash
There's an eight-legged lizard with a chicken face
Doin' the shimmy, tearin' up the place
There's an undertaker doin' the dead man's rag
And the rest are doing the rumba with the Boogie Man
(Whoa)
Boogie Man
(Yeah yeah, haunted)
He's got his boogie band
(Yeah yeah, haunted)
Here comes the Boogie Man
(Oooh)
And the fiends dance on to the vampire hop
As the band keeps crankin' out the Boogie Man bop
For the Boogie Man
(Yeah yeah, haunted)
He's got his boogie band
(Yeah yeah, haunted)
Here comes the Boogie Man
(Oooh)
And when the party fires up it's automatic
That the old house shakes from the basement to the attic
With the Boogie Man
(Yeah yeah, haunted)
Here comes the Boogie Man
(Yeah yeah, haunted)
Here comes the Boogie Man
(Oooh)
Here’s another Jenny Burton performance that I had somehow forgotten about, but recently rediscovered.
You Mean Everything to Me
Music and Lyrics by Peter Link & Jenny Burton
Can't you see
You belong to me
I know we can fly
High above this madness
Don't you know
There's nowhere else to go
An' it's tearin' me apart
Hiding all this sadness
I can't believe that you're leavin' me baby
I don't why but you're drivin' me crazy
Hard as I try I just can't live without you
Every dream I dream's about you
I was so sure that we never could make it
I thought the cure was to finally break it
For once in my life I was sure I could shake it
All along I was so wrong for...
You mean everything to me
You mean everything to me
An' now I'm goin' down on my knees
Sayin' baby won't you please please please
Bring your sweet lovin' back to me
Bring on home yeah
Can't you see
You're still part of me
This was my mistake
Don't let it be tragic
Don't you know
I still love you so
Why not try again
We can find the magic
I can't believe that you're leavin' me baby
I don't know why but you're drivin' me crazy
Night after night I am lying here lonely
I was made to love you only
I was so sure that we never could make it
I thought the cure was to finally break it
How could I have it so good and mistake it
Now I finally know my mind
You mean everything to me
You mean everything to me
An' now I'm goin' down on my knees
Sayin' baby won't you please please please
Bring your sweet lovin' back to me
Bring on home yeah
You mean everything to me
You mean everything to me
An' now I'm goin' down on my knees
Sayin' baby won't you please please please
Bring your sweet lovin' back to me
Bring on home yeah
This next song goes waaaaaaay back ... actually pre 21st Century, back, back, back to my folk singing days. When I wrote it, it was a quiet gentle introspective folk song — just me an’ my guitar. As folk music faded away from the mainstream, so did the song. It sat on the shelf for probably 3 decades until I “rediscovered” it working on my album, Remnants, several years ago. I always liked the music and always thought the lyrics were beyond the age I was when I wrote it. It warranted a second shot. The upgrade placed it then into the 21st century and enabled its usage in this episode. It has a timeless quality to it that was fun to revisit. A folk song, no longer ...
Shadows Away
Music and Lyrics by Peter Link
All my life I’ve lived like a child
Who’s safe in the arms of his mother
Now the feeling has gone away
Now I’m coming of age
Now I’m facing the great unknown
Now I’m taking the stage
May mother’s light be with me tonight
And chase all the shadows away lord
Shine a little light on me
Shadows away
Shine a little light on me
Shadows away
Here I am a child in a man
And don’t know the one from the other
Sometimes feeling a boy again
Sometimes acting my age
Sometimes silly old me again
Sometimes playing the sage
Wisdom’s child he comes and he goes
And one never knows where to find him
So shine a little light on me
Shadows away
Shine a little light on me
Shadows away
And let me be
Let me be
Closer to Thee
And in the final hour
Let me be me
Time will tell the shadows will fall
The mysteries all will be over
So shine a little light on me
Shadows away
Shine a little light on me
Shadows away
I’ve spoken in several previous episodes of a NY production of a Concert Musical entitled The River, that ran at Lincoln Center and Off-Broadway. It was a concept which told the story of the cycle of water as a drop falls from the heavens as rain, travels across the earth within a brook and then rolls with the river, and finally ends up in the ocean where it is drawn once more up to the heavens by the sun. It is a metaphor for man’s journey through time on Planet Earth.
Ya’ can’t tell the story about water dramatically without including the subject of fire. Here’s Jenny again with the support of the entire cast, live, closing night at the Promenade Theater in NYC.
Put the Fire Out
Music and Lyrics by Peter Link
Oh Lord the rain it feels so fine
Washin' down over me
Send me down a little more
To set my soul free
To set me free
Well there ain't no sunshine
But I still feel the heat
Sometimes it burns so bad
Like to make me weep
An' I fight these hard times
With all I got
But the sweet temptation comes over me
An' keeps me burnin' hot
An' I just don't understand
If it ain't one thing it's another
I got God on the one hand
And God knows what on the other
But I do know one thing
Without a doubt
It's gonna take a miracle
To put the fire out
Yes it's gonna take a miracle
To put the fire out
To put the fire out
Yes it's gonna take a miracle
To put the fire out
To put the fire out
It's gonna take a miracle to put the fire out
Well I got this burnin'
But I got my pride
Ain't no fire gonna feed on me
An' burn me deep inside
But the smoke is risin'
An' the temperature's in a sweat
An' the sultry lure of the material world
Is something I can't forget
And I can't make up my mind
My back's to the wall so help me brother
I got God on the one hand
And God knows what on the other
But I do know one thing
Without a doubt
It's gonna take a miracle
To put the fire out
Yes it's gonna take a miracle
To put the fire out
To put the fire out
Yes it's gonna take a miracle
To put the fire out
To put the fire out
It's gonna take a miracle to put the fire out
Yes it's gonna take a miracle
To put the fire out
To put the fire out
Yes it's gonna take a miracle
To put the fire out
To put the fire out
It's gonna take a miracle to put the fire out
When I first met Julia Wade, she was newly arrived in NY as an already seasoned Opera singer. She had a most promising audition at the Met, performed a leading role at the Rome Opera and Teatro Massimo in Palermo, and was well on her way to an exciting career when she realized that she didn’t really want to be an opera singer.
Now opera singers are a very special breed. It’s not an easy switch from opera to nearly any other genre of music. Those opera singers who have tried to do so have often failed and often been deservedly laughed at.
But Julia was intent to change style, voice, sound and approach. And for me it was a fascinating challenge to help her find that new voice. Few have ever pulled it off. Many have tried, but Julia succeeded. Fortunately, for Julia, she’s smart. She’s analytic, and she’s a natural actress. That interesting combination of technique and character worked very well for her. A decade later she recorded this next song that I wrote and produced for her. It’s proof that it CAN be done. Just as I was not a rapper, Julia would not call herself a pop singer, but she is absolutely a singer who is oft times full of surprises.
My Body
Music and Lyrics by Peter Link
I am not my body
My body is not me
I mean to live beyond it
In some capacity
I believe I've lived before it
Though memory fails
I cannot ignore it
Everything else
Pales in comparison
This wondrous invention
Of flesh and bone technology
Only belongs to me
Temporarily
I know not where it came from
I know not how it works
I took no part in its conception
Its genius or its quirks
It carries on in sleep
Requiring little of me
It is mine to keep
And cost me nothing
Yes it is the house of my consciousness
For perhaps a hundred years
It manufactures babies
And laughter and tears
It's a miracle of invention
In its breath
In its sight
In its tubes
In its muscle
In its appetite
In its pleasure
In its pain
In its taste
And its touch
In its foot
In its hand
In its amazing ability
To discern Tchaikovski
From Sergeant Pepper's Lonely
Hearts Club Band
I am not my body
My body is not me
But me and my body
We basically agree
To live, for a time,
On this spec in space
This embrace of mind and matter
This interface
Through this vast universe of illusion
And conjecture we go
For reasons
That I'll probably never know
Well we might as well make the best of it.
So let's dance!
Yeah let us dance
We got to dance now
Work yo' body
Work yo' body
Work yo' body
Let us dance
I am not my body
No my body is not me
But I'm amazed
By both its function
Oh and yes
Its mystery
But I go about my business
Mostly unaware
I sit in thought
I climb the stair
So little do I think ahead
And tell it what to do
It seems to work just fine
From its matter-mind
Every blink
Every step
Every breath
Every heartbeat
Every quick reaction
Every wild attraction
I am not my body
No my body is not me
It bears no real resemblance
To my true being
But hey, let's make the best of it!
And let's dance!!!
Yeah let us dance
We got to dance now
Work yo' body
Work yo' body
Work yo' body
Let us dance
So now we come to our finale. Jenny Burton started her career in dance music. Her One More Shot was the first of several of her dance music hits of the 80s. Later I wrote this last one for Jenny and great friend and super talented Lawrence Hamilton of Broadway musical fame. Why this song was never a hit is beyond me. It’s got all the right stuff. But that’s the record business. I had a million selling record that was nowhere near as entertaining on all levels as this next song. If that sounds like sour grapes, well, it probably is. In the music business, there is one thing for sure. “Ya’ never know.” Sometimes the worst of dreck can sit at the top of the charts; sometimes the best. Who’s to tell?
One thing for sure ... if it’s got a beat and you can dance to it, it’s got a chance.
So get on your dancin’ shoes ...
Saturday Night's for Dancin'
Performed by Jenny Burton and Lawrence Hamilton
Music and Lyrics by Peter Link
[Freddie]
Oh c'mon baby
[Jenny]
Freddie, I'm tellin' you
I don't want no more of yo' sloppy kisses
[Freddie]
Say what?
[Jenny]
Well if you think this back alley is romantic,
You need to take some serious lessons in Lovemaking 101
Besides, you said we were gonna go dancin'
Freddie, I wanna go dancin'
We could have a good time dancin'
C'mon Freddie
[Girls]
Saturday night's for dancin'
A little touch touch romancin'
[Jenny]
Freddie, c'mon dude
[Freddie]
Aw
[Girls]
Saturday night's for dancin'
A little touch touch romancin'
A little hot hot all over
We ain't gonna stop til we drop
[Jenny]
Ain't you gonna take me to the party?
Everybody's goin' to the party
If you won't take me to the party
You can take me home cuz I wanna be alone
Ain't you gonna take me out dancin'?
You promised we'd go out dancin'
I had my heart set on dancin'
Uhuh baby I don't wanna hear maybe
[Freddie]
I don't wanna go dancin'
I don't wanna go out dancin'
I don't really wanna go dancin'
I just wanna kiss kiss your body
[Jenny]
Freddie please take me to the party
You can get your jollies at the party
I know you're gonna love it at the party
I can give you every little thing you've ever dreamed
Everybody dance
Everybody move
Everybody come to the party
Gonna get back in the groove
Everybody rock
Everybody roll
Feel that music go through your body
Straight down to your soul
Saturday night's for dancin'
Saturday night's for dancin'
Saturday night's for dancin'
Stick your arm back in your sleeve
Cuz I'm ready to leave
Saturday night's for dancin'
Saturday night's for dancin'
Saturday night's for dancin'
Put your foot back in your sock
Cuz I'm ready to rock
[Freddie]
I don't wanna go dancin'
I don't wanna go out dancin'
I don't really wanna go dancin'
I just wanna kiss kiss your body
[Jenny]
Freddie ain'tcha goin' to the party?
You promised you'd take me to the party
You don't know what you're missin' at the party
It's Saturday night and it feels so right
Saturday night's for dancin'
A little touch touch romancin'
A little hot hot all over
We ain't gonna stop til we drop
Saturday night's for burnin'
I've got such such a yearnin'
And then we're three scoops over [bar 62]
Ooh baby you're gonna drive me crazy
Saturday night's for rockin'
A little buck in your pocket
And when you feel that beat all over
Nothin's gonna stop ya from rockin' til ya drop
Everybody dance
Everybody move
Everybody come to the party
Gonna get back in the groove
Everybody sweat
Everybody bleed
Everybody dance cuz the rhythm's
gonna fill your every need
Saturday night's for dancin'
Saturday night's for dancin'
Saturday night's for dancin'
Get your butt back in your pants
Cuz I'm ready to dance
C'mon Freddie
C'mon Freddie
Get it
C'mon girl
Gettin' down
[Freddie]
Oh c'mon baby
[Jenny]
Go on with yo' bad self
Oh
Ow you better rock it
[Girls]
Everybody
Everybody dance
[Jenny]
C'mon Freddie
Get it, ow
[Girls]
Saturday night
Saturday night
Saturday
[Jenny]
Gettin' down
Everybody bleed
Everybody dance
[Freddie]
But I don't wanna go dancin'
I don't wanna go out dancin'
I don't really wanna go dancin'
I just wanna kiss kiss your body
[Jenny]
Freddie I'm goin' to the party
And if you wanna meet me at the party
You'll know where to find me at the party
Groovin' on the dance floor and beggin' for more
[Girls]
Saturday night's for groovin'
A little hoo hoo and they're moving
It feels good good all over
You can do what you choose
But I'm ready to cruise
[Jenny]
Everybody dance
Everybody bop
Everybody come to the party
Yeah let's go to the hop
Everybody rock
Everybody go
Feel that music go through your body
Straight down to your toes
Saturday night's for dancin'
Saturday night's for dancin'
Saturday night's for dancin'
Stick your arm back in your sleeve
Cuz I'm ready to leave
[Freddie]
Oh c'mon baby
[Jenny]
Saturday night's for dancin'
Saturday night's for dancin'
Saturday night's for dancin'
Put your foot back in your sock
Cuz I'm ready to rock
[Freddie]
C'mon
[Jenny]
Saturday night's for dancin'
Saturday night's for dancin'
Saturday night's for dancin'
Get your butt back in your pants
Cuz I'm ready to dance
[Freddie]
Alright baby
[Jenny]
Saturday night's for dancin'
Saturday night's for dancin'
Saturday night's for dancin'
[Fade out]
So there ya’ have it! Scattershot Symphony, Episode 11. Next?
A New World Album Interview with Jenny Burton
Recently Jenny Burton released an EP on Watchfire Music that takes a look at the new world that we all face going forward into what we hope will be a post pandemic period. It’s a positive and hopeful look at the future through song. We’ll have a great chance to sit down with Jenny and discuss the making of this album.
Also, please rate and subscribe ...
A grateful nod goes to Lawrence Hamilton, Danny Madden and Margaret Dorn for their always inspired work on the arrangements of background vocals. Also to all those great background singers who are too many to mention in this podcast and also sometimes too distant to remember. My apologies.
A very special thanks also to Stuart Barefoot, our Associate Producer for all your invaluable knowledge and good vibes.
And a posthumous thanks to Ludwig Van Beethoven for your opening 4 bars.
Julia
(over playout music)
This podcast is presented with loving care by the staff at Watchfire Music. If you liked what you heard, we got lots more where that came from. In the meantime, you can find the songs you just heard on watchfiremusic.com. There you can purchase the singles or albums and have access to all the lyrics. Also, there you will find all previous podcasts and future scheduling.
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tell your friends and Stay tuned!